@Jagoff – I told my husband just last night that when Steigey and Errey talk about the 3 main things each team needs in order to win, the Pens list should include “SHOOT THE DAMN PUCK!!” Can’t score if you don’t shoot! It’s so frustrating.

Nice topic….yes, poor Mike Yeo (I too offered to buy him a train ticket to Siberia last season). Now, let’s look at who’s running the PP this season – COACH DAN BYLSMA ! that’s who. WTF Disco…the rover, that’s all you got ? Sending Gogo on the rover mission ? I’m beginning to think Disco may have reached his limits in abilities, this “get to our game” approach is well…an empty sound byte. What’s the plan, pass the puck, look for the perfect pass and a super skilled move or two ? Danny, you mix up lines more than Therrin did…seriously, that is SOFF !

Pre-season this team looked STACKED on paper, the Defense looked solid, the new wingers were cooking in preseason and now…meh.

Sure, injuries are part of the game, Gronk is out till Christmas and the assorted FreeCandy & Big Z setbacks didn’t help the D “gell”…and Asham missing the first ten didn’t help. BUT….we have 17.4 million dollars invested in two superstars (not Max)…and they are well – flat lining nightly. Calling Planet Geno – dude, seriously play the game, please ? I love ya man, but come on…

WTF is going on in that locker room ???

Here’s the quick fix (semi-serious)….send Mr. Mike Duff-Comrie packing…bye bye, thanks Hillary, hope you liked Market Square an ‘nat… bring Eric Tangradi back now…red eye to Anaheim. Next – find Uncle Billy Guerin, get that number 13 jersey out of the mothballs and his wise, mentoring smirk back on that team. Billy can be a place holder till Staal comes back. Maybe he can get some order back to whatever is causing this up/down performance…they are playing like they did right before Therrin was fired.

Yep, I love hockey and I love this team…I get very frustrated with them (sorta like my kids) as I KNOW they have so much talent. It’s not focused right now.

Please don’t tell me relax, we are only 13 games into the season. There’s a problem, it needs some attention.

Indeed. Perhaps they can scream it when the defenseman has the puck at the blue line and every single opposing player is lined up between him and the net. That way we’re nearly guaranteed a blocked shot and an odd man break going the other way. Then the same fans can boo Johnson or Fluery for allowing the shorthanded goal.

@empirechick – But they have to take chances. If they get the puck flying around enough, eventually they’ll get two quick shots on goal and the goalie won’t be able to cover both. Yes, occasionally that backfires, but sometimes it doesn’t. Like I said in response to Jagoff- you can score if you don’t shoot the puck. Ya just gotta try.

Yes, I totally agree they need to shoot more. All the passing around looking for the perfect shot doesn’t do anything, that’s true. Someone needs to park himself in front of the net either to screen or deflect, or both, and let’s put some pucks on the net.

But there is something to be said for moving the puck around a little bit to open up a shooting lane, instead of just blasting it with no regard to what’s in front of you. The fans who yell SHOOT, at least the ones who sit around me, have no idea of that difference. Half the time they’re yelling it when we’re still in our own end.

For as long as I can remember, the PP has never been a strong suit for the Penguins. I remember going to games the late 80’s, early 90’s and during the PP everyone screaming “SHOOT THE PUCK! SHOOT THE PUCK!” It’s early, we’re impatient. They’ll work it out or not.

Scott Paulsen once did a humorous ditty for the DVE Morning Show called “Shoot the puck” about the Pens’ Power Play.

Lemieux with the puck
he glides it in to Francis,
who gives it now to Nedved,
who gives it back to Francis,
he passes it to Zubov who slides it on the boards,
back around to Mario, so we must shout once more, shoot the puck! shoot the puck!
can’t you hear us shout?
shoot the puck! shoot the puck!
we’re the experts, do you doubt?
shoot the puck! shoot the puck!
you might just score I bet!
pass ‘n pass ‘n pass ‘n pass,
put it on the net!
get it outta der,
getta it in der,
get it outta der,
HIT SOMEBODY!”

Proves it isn’t the coaches. It’s the players. “I’ve seen this fish before.” sayeth Mike Lange.